AVA warns pastoralists

As we move into the cyclone season in the Top End, and with predictions of more rain for central Australia, the nation's peak veterinary organisation says now is the time for pastoralists to plan for any natural disasters.

The Australian Veterinary Association has just released brochures offering pastoralists advice on how to prepare for the worst.

The AVA's Northern Territory president Dr Alex Burleigh says previous natural disasters have proven the need to have emergency plans in place.

"Situations occur, for example in northern Queensland just only recently, where stock had to be moved out of severe flood hit areas and had to have feed flown in."

While Dr Burleigh believes most pastoralists have emergency plans in place, he says it always pays to double check such plans before a disaster happens.

"What you need to do, to determine with your property, is, first of all, do you have areas which are going to be cut off by flood waters and do you have areas which are what we call a safe paddock.

"Prior to any of these disasters occurring, we recommend that you move your stock, if possible, to these safe areas.

"It's important also for pastoralists to make sure that their cattle are adequately identified, in case any of the property fences come down or there's movement of stock into other areas, which may not be on their own land."